Boxing:Paul McCloskey stopped Daniel Rasilla in the ninth round to take the vacant European light-welterweight title at the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt last night.
The Dungiven boxer was on top pretty much from the off and put his Spanish opponent down twice in the ninth round, at which point the referee called a halt.
Rasilla was a late replacement for Souleymane M'baye, but he was swept aside as McCloskey moved to 20-0 as a professional.
"That was not my best performance but I had to adapt as I had been expecting to fight M'baye until earlier this week," said McCloskey after the bout.
"I was sluggish at the start but then got into it, although he made it hard for me.
"I didn't get hurt and got my own shots in so that was pleasing."
The win will make a massive difference to the classy southpaw's earning potential and may well open the door to a world title shot against Amir Khan if the English boxer can defend his WBA belt against Ukrainian Dmitriy Salita next month.
Belfast’s Martin Rogan came up short as he fell to Sam Sexton in his first defence of the Commonwealth heavyweight title in Odyssey Arena last night.
Last night’s bout had none of the controversy of their first meeting in May. Sexton had taken the belt after a stormy first encounter when the fight was stopped after
Rogan’s eye was swollen shut – but only after the home favourite had dominated the eighth round and seemed to be closing on victory.
The 38-year-old, 13 years Sexton’s senior, was out for revenge last night and came out swinging from the off, but the Norwich fighter was patiently picking his opponent off and seemed to be taking control as he beat his opponent back onto the ropes in the third round.
Rogan landed with a good flurry early in a strong fifth round, though Sexton fought back to inflict a cut above the older man’s eye.
But Sexton dominated the sixth with classy punches, working over Rogan as the latter began to falter - so much so that, before the start of the seventh, he and his corner were forced to concede the fight.
Rogan revealed afterwards that a neck injury - which had forced the postponement of the fight from its original date of October 9th - had resurfaced, limiting him in the ring.
Sexton, meanwhile, said: “The best stuff was still to come, but unfortunately we didn’t get that far.”
Sexton had been booed into the arena by a partisan home crowd but when the abuse continued during the post-fight interviews, Rogan urged: “Lads, wrap it up, will you? The guy’s a fighter.”